Saturday, 30 April 2011

First off I want to say that I dig your blog big time! It does a good job of keeping me distracted at work.My favorites on the blog are the "readers rides" so I thought I would share my DR650's current incarnation. Just got done doing a CBR250RR wheel conversion. Also has a tail section and upsweep pipe from the lovely folks and Deus. My friends and I laugh a lot at the fact that 99% of the custom parts on the bike come from Australia. It might be cheaper if I just move there! I still have a few bugs to work out but its coming along. It's likely to never be done getting monkeyed around with!Also heres a link to a little montage of its progression.Killin It blogCheers and keep up the good work guys!!Dan

Friday, 29 April 2011

Hi Guys, 75 Champion 750 Yamaha flat tracker in Roberts tribute colours almost complete. It originally came from Hayward, California, one owner from new, I have the pink slip. All new everything from US specialist race shops. Will I be putting it on the road? - hell yes! How much has it cost? - don't ask!Gary.

Last week Boastie organized a special PR day to promote his new 2011 Suzuki flat track team. The venue was the Coventry Bees stadium at Rugby Road, Coventry. It's an impressive 301 meter track that has been used for Speedway and dog racing since 1929. A small bunch of journos were invited along to try the bikes. He and his prodigy Tim Neave showed us how it was meant to be done, then we mostly disregarded all the instruction and had a daft time. Sutty from Dirt Bike Rider magazine was a natuaral and bounced off the barriers a few times.15 year old Tim is a twisted firestarter and we will do a feature on him for a future issue of Sideburn.The two bikes are both RM-Z 450 injection in standard factory frames. (Boastie's custom built framer is not yet finished). The Engine spec is the same as the donor MX bike. The front forks have been changed from 47 to 43mm. The rear shock has had a new hole drilled in the bottom mount to drop the bike 20mm. The rear swingarm has had a section cut out to shorten the standard 1495mm wheelbase to 1390mm - the rear tyre is now right up to the lateral brace. 19" wheels and tyres. A tidy custom made CoBuilt exhaust. And thats it. It makes riding my CCM seem like an unwieldily oilrig.Boastie has mastered several different bikes over the short history of UK flat track, this little flyer should be a guaranteed winner for 2011.It was also good to meet Tim Keeton Impact Images - who shot our Roland Sands XR1200 story in SB#7, who was there to shoot for Suzuki UK, who are supporting Boastie. BP

Thursday, 28 April 2011

UPDATE: From Roger, whose fantastic shots from the 70s and 80s are in SB7. Thanks Roger.Dave Aldana's first national number was 13, which he ran from 1972-74. The next year he went to #10 and ran it through 1979. Interestingly, at least stateside, the number 13 is considered to be bad luck, and nobody rode with it in 1971, the year the AMA awarded national numbers based on the 1970 final point standings. Rick Hocking rode it after Aldana and he was a good racer, and a top competitor at vintage events up until his passing earlier this year. The next guy to run it was Randy Goss, from 1978 though the 1980 season, when he earned the #1 of the Grand National Champion. Bad luck indeed!....Roger

UPDATE 2: Thanks Roger, Yes #13 is also considered unlucky in the UK, but it doesn't stop our very own GI racing with it and having it emblazoned on his regular road helmet.

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Just over a week till David Aldana's UK tour starts and we had some unexpected good news. The MC for the night is going to be Eurosport's Julian Ryder. Über bikesport gnome Jules bumped into Skooter Farm Dave at the Stafford Show and got all excited about the Aldana night. So...
David AldanaJulian Ryder
UK Short Track's movers and shakers
The chance to bid for Aldana memorabilia
Free Aldana stickers
Beer
And a screening of the 'lost' flat track movie 'The Thrill Is On'

Get your Aldana Night tickets
AND DON'T FORGET ALDANA IS RACING AT THE RESURRECTED OXFORD SPEEDWAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT!

If you don't know who Julian Ryder is watch this. He's the furry one. G

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

I called in at an office that publishes a lot of Britain's biggest motorcycle titles. I saw this on the wall of one of the newest magazine's containment cells. It says 'Flat track - Just say No'I didn't bother asking for an explanation. Underneath was a photo of one of Shinya Kimura's beautiful bikes. That was slapped with a slogan exclaiming 'Say No To Steampunk'.I left wondering why can't there be more love in the world? G

Monday, 25 April 2011

10:27, Good Friday morning, I thought I'd check to see if the local speedway team, Peterborough Panthers had a match on. What? At 11am, 24 miles away. Ok, let's go. My boy got dressed, Mrs I made us a pack-up and me and junior were gone within 8 minutes. Luckily there was such a big crowd the start was delayed and we only missed the first heat. Probably 3000 or more there, but we found room in the packed stand.

The team seems to change completely every year, so I only recognised the name of the captain, Nicki Pedersen. I did recognise the name of Coventry Bees skipper, Eddie Kennett. Hey, he races short track with us! Kennett's Coventry were wiping the floor with Peebo, scoring two 5-1s. Then Peterborough got a 5-1 back just before the interval. In the end it came down to the 15th heat. The Panthers hadn't been ahead in the whole match, but won the last heat and the match 46-44. And it was all over by 1.30. Bloody great. G

Yes, we called him a TT specialist, then he went and won the short track.Super-consistent Chris Carr was again in the top 6 and made the Dash for Cash. Wait until they start racing the twins.Sammy Halbert (chased by Jake Johnson), came third in the Main.This is the Pro Singles class (red numbers, feeder to the Expert class). In the back of the shot is #50E, the Cycle World journalist Mark Cernicky. He came 12th in the Main. He's even faster than we thought he was. His best lap was less than 2/10ths off what experts in the Main were running.Heat race action: 49 Cose; 23 Carver Jr; 7 S. Halbert (eventually 3rd in the Main); 95 Beach; 46 Lindfors; 37 Jimmy Wood (2nd in the Main)Can't stop the Halberts. Jethro won the Dash for Cash (special race for the six fastest Expert qualifiers) and 4th, just behind his brother, in the Main.Dash for Cash was contested by Carr (not in shot); 80 Bonsey; 7 S Halbert; 17 Wiles; 69 J Halbert; 37 Wood. Result was Jethro; Wood; Bonsey.Imagine being in the middle of this.This is Robert Pearson, but what are those wheels?

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Nick Clements has a photography show in London next week. Looking forward to checking it out. It's at the Royal College of Art from April 27 - May 3. Nice to see Royal Enfield's UK importers supporting it. G

Jake Johnson continues a fantastic defence of his title with a win on day 1 of the two-day Californian event. TT specialist Wiles was second, Brad Baker third, then Mees, Sammy Halbert and Chris Carr. Read about Jake Johnson's technique in Sideburn 5 (that's JJ, shot by Tim White, on the cover).Carr leads Coolbeth (in a heat). Kenny came 9th in the Main. This doesn't look like fun. Pro Singles heat race crash. Local boy Mikey Avila won the Pro Singles main. He's a name to watch.Jesse Janisch says 'No' to front mudguards.Wish we were there...

We dig all the no-budget helmet-cam stuff people are shooting of their glorious - and gingerly does it (me), exploits. But here is a challenge... We know there are a lot of creatives out there, and even ad-land types that have access to professional editing suites and the like. Can anyone make a UK version of this lush - but minimal, Deus feel good clip, that mixes on-bike head-cam, off-bike long shots, arty blips of bike details, and a few subliminal swooshes?! We don't always have the sun, but we do have the characters. BP

Hi, my name is Fumi from 6th street specials in NY.I always enjoy your magazine and your blog.The reason why Im writing down this E-mail is about Charity T-shirt for Japan.I made charity T-shirt for Japan. I really want to spread this charity T-shirt thing.If you guys can put my blog on your blog, that will be really really appreciate it.Get it hereThank you, Fumi

UPDATE:

I tried to write in English though,dumb my English...

Anyway send me E-mail directly or gosaveyourtomodachi@gmail.com This is the E-mail which I'm using as this project. I can send the T-shirt anywhere in the world.